History of the Congas
Conga is a term used to refer to the single-headed drum that first became popular in Cuban music. These drums are believed to be related to African drums from the Congo region, which after many iterations became the congas used for Latin music. "Conga" used to describe a particular kind of drum is an American creation, and in Cuba there are many different types of conga-style drums with unique names.
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Origins of Conga
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Originally, conga was a highly specific term that referred only to a particular drum and rhythm that was played only at specific times in Cuba. This style of music eventually spread and was soon picked up by America musicians, who experimented with the style and incorporated it into their music. To give these rhythms a more natural feel, other musicians began using the authentic drums to create the beats. These drums were, by association, referred to as congas.
Conga
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The conga rhythm started as a type of music used only when celebrating the Carnival, or Mardi Gras. Other musicians who liked the sound begin using it in their own inventions, and with broader appeal came the traditional name "la conga," referring to the rhythm typically played by drums in the first generations of the conga's development.
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Tumbadora
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The correct term for the conga drum is technically "tumbadora," a Spanish word derived from rumba, or traditional Cuban music. There is an entire family of tumbadora (and by extension, conga) drums that can be played, with different versions varying in size, structure, and purpose in a musical piece. Manufacturers and Latin professionals often use the word quinto to refer to small conga drums, conga to talk about average-sized drums, and tumbadora to speak of the largest scale drums. In America, "conga" is generally acceptable as a reference to the style of drums in general.
Construction
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Congas have a cylindrical or barrel shape made from connected staves, in the same way barrels were created. It is believed that congas developed from single-piece African drums into this barrel style after the Spanish conquest of Cuba. Most likely, real barrels were used to create the drums, which were formed by stretching pieces of cowhide over the open top. As conga development progressed, barrels were created specifically for the instruments and began assuming a variety of different shapes.
Tuning
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Originally, conga drums were tuned by using a flame, which was held near the barrel's top so the moisture inside would be evaporated. Of course, this took time and needed careful supervision by the player to achieve the correct tone, and before long the lug system was invented, which replaced flame tuning with a series of lugs that could be tightened to control drum head pressure.
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